Another Fire in Hastings.

Hastings Standard, Issue 44, 17 June 1896, Page 2

Another Fire in Hastings.

MR G. HAYES' RESIDENCE DESTROYED.

Most unquestionably Hastings is gaining a most unenviable pre-emi-nence in the matter of lires. This morning the bells rang at precisely the same hour as an Monday and upon looking out the fire was easily located as being near Newbi gin's brewery. A four-roomed house on St Aubyn's road at its junction with King street, owned and occupied by Mr Hayes, contractor, and his family was the scene of the catastrophe. Mr and Mrs Hayes and their two children retired as usual, leaving everything safe, and Mr Hayes' daughter was awakened at about 3.15 this morning by a loud hissing noise. On arising she found the mantel-piece in the kitchen and the walls in the immediate vicinity a sheet of flame, which was advancing with fearful rapidity. To alarm the rest of the family and rush into the street was the work of an instant and they fortunately escaped without injury. So rapid was its career that though discovered at 8.15, sit a quarter to four the entire building presented the appearance of one solid block of lire. Mr ]!randon, a near neighbor of the Hayes, in making a plucky effort to recover some of the furniture escaped very narrowly with his life. The tire had already made considerably headway, and Mr Brandon pushed his way through the heat into one of the rooms, but being blinded and almost suffocated by the volumes of smoke which filled the place he was unable to find the door at which he entered. He felt his way round the walls and called loudly for assistance, but sis the heat and smoke were gradually overpowering him he found himself face to face with a most horrible death. Providently ilr Hayes, bearing his screams, burst open the window of the room in question, and calling to him dragged him with the help of his daughter into the air nearly unconscious. Mr Brandon is severely burnt in the face, neck and right hand, and his hair is singed. Some t'7 in notes and silver were lost in the fire, and the furniture was all destroyed with the. exception of a few pictures and a couple of chairs. The Brigade under Captain Brausch and Lieutenant George turned out promptly with the steamer, but on learning the direction of the fire had to run it back again, as its operations would be useless owing to the absence of si water-supply in that locality. The manual arrived later, and water was pumped from the brewery tank, which contained about 1000 gallons, and which were exhausted on the outskirts of the lire in order to confine it within the limit of its source'. The building was insured for £l5O in the New Zealand, and the furniture for ±'so in the same office. As the erection of the. premises in the first instance cost .£220, Mr Hayes estimates his loss at £'loo above the insurance.